On Saturday, Nov. 15, three Mission Bay High seniors presented their leadership projects at the Community Leadership Intern Showcase 2024.
Working individually or in pairs, 12 high school students from across the San Diego Unified School District worked from July through November as interns in a leadership development project collaboratively sponsored by The Organizing and Leadership Academy (TOLA) and the Cesar Chavez Service Clubs (CCSC).
The challenge given to the interns was to select, anticipating the 2024 election, a local ballot measure to provide community education. The interns learned to develop goals, strategies, and timelines to inform the community about local issues. These 12 interns also received training, guidance, and mentorship from a team of skilled organizers, community leaders, elected officials, polling experts, and campaign strategists. They researched local issues designed, developed, and implemented a community education strategy before the November 2024 election.
These students gained first-hand knowledge and experience in planning and working on an electoral campaign. Once their campaign ideas were established the interns focused on voter outreach.
Voter outreach is an entirely separate set of skills to learn and include mailing, traditional media, social media, phone calls, working door-to-door in neighborhoods as well as obtaining endorsements.
WHAT IS TOLA?
The Organizing Leadership Academy (tolacademy.org) was founded in 2010. TOLA’s mission is to train individuals and communities in the fundamental skills of community organizing and civic engagement. For the last 14 years, TOLA has provided rigorous hands-on training programs for individuals interested in learning how to organize to improve their communities.
Combining classroom instruction, significant reading, reflectively writing, and most importantly, work on real organizing projects, the intern participants develop the discipline and skills necessary to become effective organizers and community leaders.
WHAT IS CCSC?
Cesar Chavez Service Clubs (chavezclubs.org) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire young people to believe in themselves and to know they can make a difference. CCSC has created a youth leadership development program that empowers and equips mostly Latino students from elementary through high school in the San Diego Unified School District to be leaders and change-makers in their local communities.
In the summer of 2024, in collaboration with Cesar Chavez Service Clubs, The Organizing Leadership Academy piloted a summer/fall internship program for high school students. Starting in July, Mission Bay High seniors Cynthia Lopez Guerrero, Ayden Perez, and Derius McCovy were among the 12 students from high schools in San Diego selected for the intensive internship experience to learn the basics of community organizing. The goal of the project was to demonstrate the power and influence young people can have in elections and community improvement initiatives.
Guerrero was selected for the internship program through her work and membership in the First Gen Scholars program. After submitting additional references and a successful interview with TOLA staff she was invited to participate.
“For our TOLA project, my partner, Keila Tolentino, a senior attending Patrick Henry High, and I focused on showcasing the importance of leadership and community involvement through interviews,” Guerrero said. “We spoke with office staff, teens, and community leaders, asking about their experiences, contributions, and the impact they've made.
“The goal was to not only recognize their hard work but also to inspire others, especially young people, to take action in their communities. We then formatted these interviews for Instagram, presenting them in a formal yet engaging style to ensure their stories resonated with a broader audience,” Guerrero dijo.
“By sharing these narratives, we aimed to amplify the voices of those making a difference and encourage others to embrace leadership and civic engagement. Overall, we were very successful as Measure HH passed this election. I am very proud of myself and my peers,” she added.
McCovy and Perez also completed the application process and TOLA interviews to be accepted as 2024 summer interns.
“The program started during my summer vacation, specifically at the beginning of July. I’d say I had a very big commitment to the program as I would have to show up every single day except for Sunday, from 10 a.m. to around 4 p.m.,” McCovy said. “Then around halfway through August, I transitioned into part-time work, which was 10 hours a week, so that I would be able to balance my other responsibilities such as school, sports, and extracurriculars.”
McCovy and Perez, partners in their TOLA-CCSC project, researched and developed a comprehensive voter education guide. The guide, “10 Things You Should Know About Voting But Don’t,” was directed at young and most importantly first-time voters.
Topics included knowing your voting rights, how to research candidates and issues, and understanding the required ID needed at a polling location. In addition, the topic of potential voter suppression was covered in Dermius and Ayden’s voter guide.
Early on Guerrero, McCovy, Perez and their families decided to attend Mission Bay High for the challenge and rigor of the IB Program. “I attended Pacific Beach Elementary and PBMS,” Guerrero said. “My older sister had completed the IB program at Mission Bay and my parents wanted that same opportunity for me.”
Guerrero’s schedule includes cinco IB classes, ASB, and her theory of knowledge class. “I have just completed cinco UC and cinco CSU college applications. It was a long hard process and I hope my hard work pays off,” she said.
Her career interests? “Growing up as the child of first-generation immigrant parents, I witnessed the challenges and injustices they faced. This inspired me to want to become a lawyer who can fight for justice and be a voice for people like my parents.
“At the same time, I’ve always been passionate about sports. Whether it's exploring sports management or the industry's business side, I'm drawn to the energy, connection, and opportunity sports provide. While these fields may seem different, they both align with my values of advocacy, leadership, and creating meaningful impact,” Guerrero dijo.
McCovy and Perez both attended The Language Academy Spanish Immersion Program for kindergarten through eighth grade and transferred to Mission Bay for the IB Program four years ago. McCovy entered Mission Bay fluent in Spanish and wants to continue his Spanish language at the highest level possible, thus the IB Program. He is a candidate for the IB diploma and his class schedule includes five IB classes, the theory of knowledge class, as well as ASB. Having submitted his UC and CSU college applications, McCovy is putting the finishing touches on his applications to out-of-state and private colleges and universities. He has already decided that his future will include business and property ownership.
Perez is enrolled in several IB classes during his final year at Mission Bay. His career goals include investing in real estate properties. While he still has several college applications out and is awaiting replies, Perez has been accepted into Cal State San Marcos as a pre-business major.
Each of the students was asked to comment on being viewed as a role model.
“I believe other students and adults see me as a role model for my peers,” Perez said. “As for having these expectations placed on me, it feels like a responsibility to continue working hard and setting a good example.”
McCovy finds that being a role model to be very motivating. “I am referred to as a role model by my little cousins and my lacrosse team. I feel great that these expectations are being put on me and that I am doing a proper job. Being seen in this light makes me want to continue on the path I am on and keep being a leader for others,” he said.
“Through leadership opportunities – whether as an intern, a club leader, or a dedicated student –I’ve realized how my actions influence others,” Guerrero said. “People, including adults, peers, and younger students, have told me they look up to me, and knowing this makes me want to work even harder.
“Having these expectations placed on me feels like an honor and a challenge. It pushes me to grow, stay grounded, and uphold the values my parents instilled in me. While it can sometimes feel like a lot of pressure, I see it as an opportunity to meet those expectations and inspire others to pursue their paths with confidence and determination,” Guerrero dijo.
